Tom Petty rode to the pinnacle of pop music stardom with his beloved and long-running rock band the Heartbreakers, born out of the ashes of a group that flopped when he brought them from Gainesville, Fla., to California in the mid-1970s. He emerged as one of the most vocal and tireless champions of artistic integrity and musical purity in the record business.

Reportedly found unconscious at his Malibu home on Sunday night, Petty was rushed to UCLA’s Santa Monica hospital in full cardiac arrest and died Monday at 66. For hours, multiple media outlets reported his death only to retract those reports; his death was confirmed Monday night by his family’s spokeswoman. A cause has not been announced.

George Young, a pioneer of Australian music as a member of The Easybeats and producer for AC/DC, the band fronted by his brothers Angus and Malcolm, has died.

Young "created a new sound for the Australian music industry," the publishing house Alberts said in a statement on its website.

Young co-wrote Friday On My Mind, an enduring hit that charted around the world, with Harry Vanda, who became his long-time song-writing partner.

"A consummate songwriter, trailblazing producer, artist, mentor and extraordinary musician, George was above all else a gentleman who was unfailingly modest, charming, intelligent and loyal, a man with a wonderful sense of humour," Alberts CEO David Albert said in a statement.

"He will be missed."

AC/DC said that without Young's help and guidance "there would not have been an AC/DC".

"As a musician, songwriter, producer, advisor, and much, much more, you could not ask for a more dedicated and professional man."

Robert Guillaume -- best known for his '80s hit TV show, "Benson" -- died Tuesday at his L.A. home from complications of prostate cancer ... according to his wife, Donna.

Guillaume won the Emmy for lead actor in a comedy for playing sarcastic, wise-cracking butler, Benson DuBois, on the hit ABC show. "Benson" was a spin-off from "Soap." He won a supporting actor Emmy for that show.

He was also the voice of Rafiki on Disney's "The Lion King" -- and Isaac Jaffe on Aaron Sorkin's "Sports Night."

Throughout his career, Guillaume defied racial stereotypes with his characters on TV and in theater. He earned a 1977 Tony nom for "Guys and Dolls" ... and was the first African-American to play the title role in "Phantom of the Opera"

Farewell to Rory O'Donoghue, known by many from Aunty Jack fame and by ear of so many catchy commercial jingles he wrote & co wrote with Grahame Bond ( Aunty Jack)

Quote:

The passing of Rory O'Donoghue . He died in hospital on 13 December 2017.

Many of you knew Rory as an incredible musician, a great athlete and a wonderful teacher. To us he was the most amazing and precious Dad, Grandpa, partner, son, brother, uncle and friend. We are devastated and will miss him deeply